Gate latch



B. F. TRUMBO Feb. 16, 1954 GATE LATCH Original Filed Sept. 20, 1950Fig.2

Benjamin F. Tiumba IN VEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GATE LATCH BenjaminF. Trnmbo, Uniontown, Ky.

Original application September 20, 1950, Serial No. 185,847, now PatentNo. 2,650,443, dated September 1, 1953. Divided and this applicationNovember 7, 1951, Serial No. 255,185

Glaims.

This is a division of the application for patent filed by me September20, 1950, Serial No. 185,847, and which has terminated in Letters PatentNo. 2,650,443, dated September 1, 1953,

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in gatesand latches therefor and more particularly to a novel swinging farm gateand latch construction.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel latchconstruction for holding the gate in a closed position and including apivoted latch plate positioned at each side of the gate with springmeans for holding the plates in the path of opening movement of the gatein either direction, and a handle for selectively releasing either ofthe latch plates.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Wear plate at theswinging edge of the gate to ride against the latch plate during closingmovement of the gate and to reinforce and prevent wear to the gateduring long periods of use.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character ofsimple and practical construction, Which is strong and durable,eflicient and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture andotherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, whereinlikenumerals refer to like part throughout, and in which:

Figure l. is a side elevational view of the gate;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;and

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 3--3and 44 of Figure 2.

teferring now to the drawing in detail, Wherein for the purpose ofillustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the inventionthe numeral 5 designates the gate generally and is Of a type commonlyused as a farm gate and including horizontal slats 6 rigidly connectedto each other by vertical bars 1 and including X- braces 9 at each sideof the gate adjacent its inner or hinged end and constructed of angleiron brace members.

The latch designated generally at l2 includes an attaching plate 13secured to a fence post I4 at the free end of the gate, the ends of theplate rolled to form eyes IS in which vertical hinge pins l t aresuitably secured for mounting a pair of pivoted latch plates ll thereonby means of eyes I8 rolled at one end of the latch plate.

The latch plate I 1 are held in an inwardly inclined position in frontof the attaching plate l3 and with the free edges of the latch platespaced from each other by means of rods l9 suitably secured at one endto the inner surface of the latch plate and slidabl in crossbars 20suitably secured to post I 4. Coil springs 2| are positioned on the rodsI9 between the attaching plate I 3 and the latch plates 1 l to hold thelatch plates in an inclined position outwardly from the attaching plateit as shown more clearly in Figure 2 in the drawings. A substantiallyV-shaped handle 22 is pivoted in a horizontal position at its centralportion to the rear of gate post I4 by means of a bracket 23 and pin 24,and a chain 25 or other flexibl member connects each end of the handle22 to one of the latch plates 11.

Th free or outer end of the "gate 5 is swingable into a position betweenthe free edges of latch plates I! to hold the gate in its closedposition and a channel shaped wear plate 26 is suitably secured in avertical position to the free end of one or more of the slats 6 of thegate for riding against the latch plate I! to prevent wear or damage tothe slats of the gate during the closing movement thereof. The oppositesides of the wear plate 26 are bevelled or tapered toward the outer edgethereof to facilitate riding of the wear plate along the latch plateduring closing movement of the gate.

In the operation of the device, thesprings 2| normally hold the pivotedlatch plates IT in an outwardly incline-d position in front of attachingplate [3 and with the opposed or free edges of the latch plates spacedapart to receive wear plate 26 and the free end of gate 5 therebetween,the latch plates thus holding the gate in its'closed position.

Either of the latch plates I! may be released for opening the gate bymoving the adjacent'end of handle 22 outwardly causingchain. 25 to pulllatch plate ll inwardly against the tension of spring 2| to free thegate.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of thdevice will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A moredetailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shownand described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A latch for gates comprising a fixed latch member including anattaching plate adapted for attaching to a gate post at the side of thelatter adjacent a gate, a pair of latch plates pivoted at one edge tothe attaching plate for horizontal pivotal movement toward and away fromthe attaching plate, spring means holding the latch plates inclined fromone face of the attaching plate and with the free edges of the latchplates opposed and spaced from each other to receive the free end of thegate therebetween, in. a locking position, and manually operated meansmounted on the gate post at its side remote from the gate and projectingtransversely'with respect to the gate opening in directions. towardopposite sides of the gate for manipulation at either side of the gateand connected to the latch plates for moving a selected latch plate intoa releasing position. inwardly against the attaching plate andindependently of the other of said latch plates,

2. A latch for gates comprising. a fixed latch member including anattaching plate adapted for attaching to a gate post at the, side of thelatter adjacent a gate, a pair of latch plates pivoted at one ed e tothe attaching plate forhorizontal pivotal movement, toward and away fromthe attaching plate, spring means. holding the latch plates inclinedfrom one face of the attaching plate and with the free edges of thelatch plates opposed and spaced from each other to receive the free endof the gate there'oetween, in a locking position, and a lever pivotedto. a side of the gate post. remote from the gate. and projectingtransversely with respect to the gate openingv in directions towardopposite sides of the gate for manipulation at either side of the gateand connected to the latch plates for moving a selected latch plateintoa releasing position inwardly against the attaching plate andindependently of theother of said latch plates.

, .3. A latch for gates comprising a fixed latch member including anattaching plateadapted for attaching to a gate post at the side of thelatter adjacent a gate, a pair of latch plates pivoted at one edge tothe attaching plate for horizontal pivotal movement,'toward and awayfrom the attaching plate, spring means holding the latch plates inclinedfrom one face of the attaching plate and with the free edges of th latchplates opposed and spaced from each other to receive the free end of thegate therebetween' in a looking position, spring means holding the latchplates inthe path of opening movement of the gate, and double endedhandle pivoted at its central portion to the gate post at the side ofthe latter remote from the gate and projecting transversely with respectto the gate opening toward opposite sides of the gate and connected ateach end to the respective latch plates for mov..- ing a selected latchplate into a releasing position 4 inwardly against the attaching plateand inde pendently of the other of said latch plates.

4. A latch for gates comprising a fixed latch member including anattaching plate adapted for attaching to a gate post at the side of thelatter adjacent a gate, a pair of latch plates pivoted at one edge tothe attachin plate for horizontal pivotal movement toward and away fromthe attaching plate, spring means holding the latch plates inclined fromone face of the attaching plate and with the free edges of the latchplates opposed and spaced from each other to receive the free end of thegate therebetween in a locking position, spring means holding the latchplates in the path of opening movement of the gate, and a v shapedhandle pivoted at its center to the gate post at a side of the latterremote from the gate and projecting transversely outwardly at oppositesides of the gate, and connected at each end to the respective latchplate for moving a selected latch plate into a releasing positioninwardly against the attaching plate and independently of the other ofsaid latch plates.

5. A latch for gates comprising a fixed latch member including anattaching plate adapted for attaching to a gate post at the side of thelatter adjacent a gate, a pair of latch plates pivoted at one edge tothe attaching plate for horizontal pivotal movementtoward and away fromthe attaching plate, spring means holding the latch plates inclined fromone face of the attaching plate and with the free edges of the latchplates opposed and spaced from each other to receive the free end of thegate therebetween in a locking position, spring means holding the latchplates in the path of opening movement of the gate, a V-shaped handlepivoted at its center to the gate post at a side of the latter remotefrom the gate and projecting transversely outwardly at opposite sides ofthe gate, and flexible members connecting each end of the handle to therespective latch plates for moving a selected latch plate into areleasing position inwardly against the attachingplate and independentlyof the other of said latch plates.

BENJAMIN F. TRUMBO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES'PATENIS NumberName Date 180,754 Currie Aug. 8, 1876 895,445 Finch Aug. 11, 19081,071,480 Tyler "a"- Aug. 26, 1913 1,194,636 Joy Aug. 15, 1916 1,264,244Woiwod Apr. 30, 1913 1,510,993 Houser Oct. '7, 1924 1,548,154 MechemAug. 4, 1925 1,924,806 Saunders Aug. 29, 1933 2,159,315 Blue May 23,1939 2,245,855 Fletcher June 1'7, 1941 2,366,392 Endter Jan. 2, 1945

